Even when progress for your child is slow, there are things to celebrate; it’s important to honor small victories. Seemingly commonplace accomplishments are all the sweeter because of what could have been: the “what ifs” that thankfully never came to be—because of intervention.

One mother of a daughter with autism was going through a lot of changes in life when she found something that seemed empowering, new, and different. Her story, as told to Kaitlin Ahern, shows how a day of joy helped her release negative feelings and embrace the power of self-care.

It's easy to get used to hearing about all the things your child with special needs can't do, but there are so many within their grasp with the right modifications and help. We spoke to various experts, parents, and even kids themselves for tips on how you can turn 'can't' into 'can.'

From anger and denial to acceptance and joy, parents of children with special needs are sure to experience a mixed bag of emotions. Rita Eichenstein, Ph.D. explains what’s normal and how parents can manage feelings in a healthy way and accept diagnosis.

Jill Edelman, mother of a child with special needs and author of This Crazy Quilt: Parenting Adult Special Needs One Day At a Time, reflects on her daughter surpassing doctors' predictions and living a fulfilling life.

A young girl with autism, a sibling to two brothers on the spectrum, and two parents of children with disabilities share their unique perspectives on what the future will be like for their loves ones with special needs.

Learning that your child has special needs can be overwhelming and coping with the diagnosis can daunting. Rockland County mom Debbie Bertrand shares her experiences as she navigated life after her daughter was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Eleven parents of kids with special needs, all of whom have become experts in the special needs field, share the greatest wisdom they received that helped them cope after their children were diagnosed with disabilities.

When one mom realized she didn't owe strangers an explanation, a defense, or an apology when it came to her son's actions, she found she helped empower her son with autism. Linda Kimpton explains helping her 7-year-old son navigate life with no apologies.

When her infant daughter was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, one mom turned her questions into action. Laverne's inspiring story about traveling the world with Kasenya and their family will inspire you to redefine the possibilities and journeys presented to your own family.

Plenty has been written about teaching children to be more tolerant of their peers with special needs, but what about reaching unsympathetic adults? How to handle those intrusive questions and ignorant comments, whether on the playground or, ahem, at a family gathering.

When his twin sister is diagnosed with a developmental disorder and hits her milestones later than he does, compassionate Joey finds a way to keep their bond strong. His mother watches on with affection.

A couple on Long Island volunteers to teach children with autism how to surf through Surfers Healing, a daylong surfing camp for children with autism that was founded by former competitive surfer Israel "Izzy" Paskowitz and his wife Danielle.

A mom raising a child with special needs with her family in New York City is empowered in her own situation as she helps other families through trying and challenging times with their own children with special needs.

Sometimes telling a lie is the polite thing to do, right? One mom whose son doesn’t quite grasp the delicate art of social “glossing over” riffs on the theme—and hopes you’ll remember her words when the time is right.

'Autistic Like Me: A Father’s Perspective' is a feature documentary film directed by Charles Jones, chronicling the journey of five fathers whose children have all been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. We interviewed Jones and Anthony Merkerson, a Queens father featured in the film, and featured excerpts of the interview in our April issue. Here we feature the full transcript, an opportunity to support the film, and information about a special screening hosted by the ALM Outreach Campaign.

'Autistic Like Me: A Father’s Perspective' is a feature documentary film directed by Charles Jones, chronicling the journey of five fathers whose children have all been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. We interviewed Jones and Anthony Merkerson, a Queens father featured in the film, and featured excerpts of the interview in our April issue. Read on for the full transcript.

When Rocky Point resident Beth Capodanno discovered a way to make her son's bath time less of a struggle, she decided to share the wealth and wrote "Stinky Feet Stew," a children’s book aimed at making bath time easier for parents and children.

FUN GUIDES

About Us

NYMetroParents is the parenting division of Davler Media Group and encompasses 9 regional print magazines within the greater NY metro region as well as the website (nymetroparents.com). Following the success of the first NYC parenting resource book, "Big Apple Baby," BIG APPLE PARENT was launched in 1985; it is now the largest publisher of regional parenting content in the United States.